A special election has been scheduled to fill the District 45 seat left open by the recent death of Iowa Democratic Sen. Joe Seng.

Gov. Terry Branstad says Wednesday a special election will be held Dec. 27 to select a senator to represent the eastern Iowa district that includes Davenport.

Branstad says he wanted to hold the special election on Nov. 8 to save money and ensure high voter turnout. Roxanna Moritz, the county auditor who will oversee the special election, says in a letter that the move would have complicated ballot printing and delayed delivery of absentee ballots and ballots to overseas veterans by more than a week.